The King's Principles #2

How many of you have experienced hunger for something specific after a meal? Our appetites are so distinct and developed by our culture and habits, but there is something specific we can hunger for, and it is actually a blessing.

A. Righteousness

So what is righteousness? In the Bible, we see three types of righteousness mentioned.

Positional righteousness

This is defined as the doctrine concerning how man may attain a state, approved by God. We cannot be made righteous by our works.

This is only possible through believing in the finished work of Jesus on the cross and His resurrection.

Romans 3:23–25 NIV

23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. 25 God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished—

Personal righteousness

This refers to integrity, the correctness of thinking, feeling, and acting. Positional righteousness with God without personal righteousness is not a blessed life.

Colossians 3:1–3 NIV

1 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.

Public righteousness

This is justice or the virtue which gives each his due. This is righteousness in the land, in political-economic systems, public policy, and administration.

Romans 1:17 NIV

17 For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”

B. Response

What should be our response to the righteousness of God?

To hunger and thirst. It means to crave ardently, seek with eager desire, and eagerly wait for those things by which the soul is refreshed, supported, and strengthened.

What do you hunger and thirst for?

Validation, recognition, security, comfort?

The person who doesn’t hunger and thirst is the one who is 6 feet under. Even when we are unwell, we have trouble with hunger.

So it is a sign of spiritual health when we hunger and thirst for righteousness.

C. Reward

What is the reward of hungering and thirsting after righteousness?

That we will be satisfied. Since righteousness is not of man but God, we cannot satisfy ourselves. God promises to satisfy us.

Romans 3:23–25 NIV

So how does he satisfy us?

Past - When we place our trust in Jesus, our longing to be right with God is satisfied - not because of our righteous deeds but by faith.

Present - “He guides me along the paths of righteousness.” He satisfies us not only in salvation but in sanctification by giving us the required grace.

Psalm 23:3 NIV

3 he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake.

Future - On this side of eternity, we will never experience utter satisfaction for our hunger and thirst for righteousness because sin and injustice still plague this world.

This is why Jesus says in John 4: 13 -14

John 4:13–14 NIV

13 Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, 14 but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”

REFLECT AND ASK YOURSELF:

What do you hunger and thirst for?

What does the hunger for righteousness look like in your area of influence?

How has Jesus satisfied you in your hunger and thirst for righteousness?

Receive forgiveness and be merciful v7

English Standard Version Chapter 5

“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.

Keep in mind Jesus is addressing his followers. If you are in the Kingdom of God, you have already obtained mercy. The mercy seat is the starting place. Mercy is not a New Testament concept.

God has always been merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in love. His mercies are new every morning. In His mercy, He does not treat us as our sins deserve.

Mercy is at the center of the gospel.

God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive in Christ. The kingdom is all about giving and not just receiving.

So, as we have received forgiveness, we need to forgive; as we have received grace, we give grace; as we have received mercy, we show mercy.

Ephesians 2:4–5 NIV

4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.

The Roman culture saw mercy as a sign of weakness. Could this have influenced the Jews who lived under Roman rule?

God was reminding them who He is and who they are. The world’s ways tend to cling to us, and we need to keep reminding ourselves we are not of this world.

What is mercy?

Mercy is not giving you the punishment you deserve.

Grace is giving you what you do not deserve.

We cannot demand either of them. So, we need to come to God in humility.

We can only give mercy because we have received mercy first.

If we needed to be merciful first, then the mercy we receive from God would be a payment for our kindness. That is not so. Those in the kingdom have already received mercy, and showing mercy is Kingdom culture.

Romans 5:8 NIV

8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Micah 6:8 NIV

8 He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.

Lamentations 3:23 NIV

23 They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

James 3:17 NIV

17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.

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